Electrode holder



Feb. 19, 1946. P. BOURQUE ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed Feb; 7, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l R m N NE N @E m Nm mm a P -yww/ wm i L O I w D m NL- D ...mi i

PHIUP L. BGUR QUE ATTORNEYS Feb. 19, 1946. P. L. BuRQUE ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed Feb. 7, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet-2 INVENTOR. PHILIP L.BOURQUE ATTO RN EYS vPatented Feb. I9, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRODE HOLDER Philip L. Bourque, Detroit, Mich. lApplication. February '1, 1944, serial No. 521,401

(ci. 21e-s) 2 Claims.

The invention relates to electrode holders of the type used for arc welding.

It is the object of the invention to obtain a construction in which the. holder in addition to vits function of carrying the electrode may be used for removing slag from the welded structure.

Itis a further object to obtain various other advantages and with these objects in view the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a central longitudinal section through one form of my improved electrode holder;

Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the electrode and clamp operating means therefor;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. l showing a modiiied construction;

Fig; 5 is a cross section on line 5 5, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is .an elevation similar to Fig. 2 of the construction shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section showing a modiied construction of clamp operating means.

Holders for electrodes used in arc welding must be provided with means for quickly releasing a used-up electrode and replacing it by a new electrode. With certain constructions the engagement and release of the clamp is effected by a relative rotation of the clamping means and the handle. Also to avoid danger of short circuiting, the clamping means is incased with dielectric material sumciently cut away for the introduction and removal of the electrode. My improved holderis of this typev but is provided with additional means for facilitating quick exchange of electrodes, the detailed construction being as follows.

As shown in Fig. 1, A is a tubular handle formed of iiber or other suitable dielectric material. B is a metallic member secured within the handle A and provided with means for attaching the conductor cable thereto, such as a tapering socket B',

for receiving a tapered hollow plug C to which' the cable (not shown) is attached by a gland C. The end of the plug C is threaded at C2 to engage a correspondingly threaded portion ofthe socket in the member B. The member B is further provided with a forwardly projecting portion W for engaging a threaded socket D in a forwardly projecting member D. This member D is prol vided near its forward end with a transversely extending arcuate bearing D2 for receiving the end ofthe electrode E. The rear portion of the member D is axially bored-to receive a clamping member F, the rear end of which has a polygonal portion F for engaging a corresponding recess in the member B. There is also a coil springG sleeved on the member F bearing at its rear end on va collar F2 on said member F and at its forward end on an insulating cupped washer H within a counterbore in the member D. The arrangement is such that by relatively rotating the handle A and the member D the threaded engagement between the member B and socket D' will eiect a longitudinal movement of the member D relative to the member F. Thus, rotation in one direction will move the member F to clamp the electrode in the socket D2 while rotation in the reverse direction will release the clamp.

As previously stated, it is desirable to surround Y the clamping means with a dielectric casing so as to avoid any danger of sh'ort circuiting. Such a casing I surrounds the portion of the member D which extends beyond the handle A and this casing is cut away sufficiently for the insertion of the electrode E. However, it is one of the objects of the instant invention to provide means for removing slag from the welded joint and the dielectric material I is not of suiicient strength for this purpose. I have, therefore, provided a metallic casing J surrounding the dielectric casing I and overlapping a portion of the handle A. This metallic casing will be electrically insulated from the conductor elements within the handle and from the. member D but is mechanically connected t0 the latter so as to transmit torque therebetween. As shown, this is accomplished by a screw threaded pin K of fiber or other dielectric material which passes through correspondingly threaded aligned apertures in the casings J', I and the member D. The casing J is preferablyyfurther provided with an external U- shaped bearing portion J through which a. replacement electxode may be inserted before the used-up electrode is unclamped. This will permit of employing the replacement electrode'as a lever for relatively rotating the member D and the handle A to release the clamp so that the used electrode may drop out. The replacement electrode may then be further inserted into engagement with the clamping means and again used as a lever for tightening the clamp. Various constructions may be used for removing the slag but, as illustrated in Fig. 1, such means comprises a, wire brush L, the back L' of which is welded or otherwise secured to the casing J on the side thereof opposite the electrode E. The forward end oi' the back L may be extended to form a of the point 1.2 a scraper blade such as M may be used, this, as shown in Fig. 3, having a screwthreaded shank M engaging a corresponding socket in the casing J.

With the modified construction shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the slag removing means is omitted but the metallic casing J is still retained. Its purpose is to transmit torque to the member D when the replacement electrode is used as a lever in the manner previously described. The means for operating the clamp is, however, modified by providing a double screw engagement between the handle and the member F. Thus, as shown, the member F has its rear end threaded to engage a threaded socket F3 in the member B in addition to the threaded engagement between said member B and the socket D. Consequently, when the handle A and member D are relatively rotated, the amount of axial movement imparted to the member F is double that which would be given by a single screw. To cause the member F t rotate with the member D, a screw F4 engaging the forward portion or" said member F has its head engaging a slot D3 in the member D thereby forming a coupling engagement between said members.

When a welding operation is being performed, any time required for exchanging electrodes is so much time lost cutting down the speed of operation. Also, the time required for removing slag is diminished if the electrode holder may be employed for this purpose instead of using a separate tool.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. '7 a double threaded member B3 for operating the clamping means is separate from a member B4 which is attached to the handle, the latter member being also separate from the means for connecting the cable. Thus, as shown, the member B3 has a threaded shank B5 for engaging a portion of the threaded socket B6 in the center of the member B4. Opposite ends of the member B4 have tapering sockets for receiving respectively a tapering portion B'I on the member Bl and the tapering portion of the cable attaching means such as illustrated in Fig. 1. This construction permits of using the same handle with modified constructions of the clamping means. Another feature of the construction is that one of two threadedly engaged members is slotted to permit expansion under heat without binding the screw. This is shown at B and B9.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. In an electrode holder, a handle formed oi dielectric material, an electrode clamping means projecting outward from within said handle, a casing of dielectric material surrounding the projecting portion of said electrode clamping means, a metallic casing surrounding said casing of dielectric material cut away for the passage of the electrode therethrough without electrical contact therewith and a pin of insulator material coupling said metallic casing with said clamping means.

2. An electrode holder comprising a handle of dielectric material, electrode clamping means partially within said handle and projecting outward therefrom, said clamping means being operable by a relative rotation of the same and said handle, a casing of dielectric material enclosing the projecting portion of said clamping means, a metallic casing surrounding said casing of dielectric material but cut away for the passage of the electrode therethrough without electrical contact therewith, torque transmitting means between said metallic casing and said clamping means, and a bearing also on said metallic casing for the engagement of a replacement electrode and in open communication with said cutaway whereby said raplecement electrode may be used as a lever for releasing the clamp to drop out the first mentioned electrode and to be inserted in its place.

PHILIP L. BOURQUE. 

